Police bust interstate child-trafficking ring in Oyo
..rescue 17 children
…probe links syndicate to ritual killings
The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered an alleged interstate child-stealing and human-trafficking network operating across parts of Nigeria, rescuing 17 children and arresting seven suspects in an intelligence-led investigation that has also opened a disturbing line of inquiry into the alleged sale of children to ritualists.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the Police State Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, saying what began with a petition over alleged conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character had developed into an investigation exposing a wider criminal network involved in the identification, abduction, movement, sale and concealment of children.
Olugbenga said the investigation began after a petition dated July 29, 2026 was submitted by Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, of Sogade Area, Ariyo, Ibadan, and was assigned to the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad on 3 August.
According to him, detectives examining the circumstances surrounding the petition were drawn to the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, who disappeared during an annual masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29.
The commissioner said the child had accompanied his father to the festival at his father-in-law’s family compound, while Popoola had arrived in the town two days earlier to participate in preparations for the event.
He explained that Popoola allegedly offered to carry the child during the festival, after which both she and the child disappeared from the venue.
Olugbenga said the disappearance was subsequently reported at the Atiba Police Divisional Headquarters in Oyo Town, while detectives obtained pictorial and video materials from the event which showed Popoola carrying the missing child.
He said the digital trail and statements obtained from persons identified during the investigation established that Popoola was with Ifakunle around the time he disappeared.
“Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, was arrested on 4 August 2026 at about 1430 hours, when she admitted to have attended the masquerade festival and thereafter left with the missing child,” the Commissioner said.
Olugbenga said Popoola’s arrest provided the first major breakthrough in the investigation and opened the door to the wider network.
He said the suspect confessed to having been involved in the alleged stealing of more than 15 children, aged between two and seven, from churches, parties and other event venues both within and outside Oyo State.
The suspect, he added, identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as her alleged partner in the operation.
Police subsequently traced and arrested Adekanbi in Mowe, Ogun State, where four children aged between two and four were rescued from custody, alongside two pregnant young women.
The commissioner said Adekanbi admitted knowing Popoola for about 10 years and acknowledged her involvement in the alleged stealing and sale of children, although she denied having Ifakunle in her custody.
He noted that Adekanbi’s statement nevertheless provided detectives with crucial information about the network’s modus operandi, including the alleged practice of keeping stolen children in custody pending sale.
She also allegedly disclosed that the pregnant young women were being kept and cared for until delivery, while information obtained from her led detectives to the whereabouts of Ifakunle, adding that he three-year-old was subsequently rescued around the Gbagi area of Ibadan on 20 August.
Olugbenga disclosed that on September 2, detectives travelled to Agbor, Delta State, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from persons who had acquired them.
He disclosed that the two alleged participants in the operation Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, were arrested.
The development, the Commissioner said, confirmed the interstate character of the criminal operation and established that children were allegedly being moved outside Oyo State as part of the trafficking enterprise.
“This development confirmed the interstate dimension of the criminal network and established that children were being moved beyond Oyo State for purposes connected with the criminal enterprise,” he said.
The investigation, then took an even more disturbing turn when detectives allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the criminal network’s activities extended beyond child trafficking to the alleged disposal of children who died while in the custody of abductors.
The Commissioner said one of the suspects confessed that where a stolen child died in custody, the body would allegedly be sold to ritualists.
The revelation, according to Olugbenga, led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, a Muslim cleric described as an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist.
“She also confessed that if a child should die while in their custody, the body will be sold to ritualists, which led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist. Both have confessed their involvement in using them for ritual purposes,” Olugbenga said.
The police investigation has therefore expanded from the recovery of abducted children to determining the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths of other children allegedly taken by the network.
The Command said it had so far recovered 17 children in connection with the investigation, noting those rescued are Ifakunle Ifagbenro, three; Musibau Olasupo, five; Sulaimon Osamo, seven; Murina Fidaus, three; Aminat Yusuf, three; Taiwo Olamilekan, three; an infant aged nine days; Rafiat Waheed Babalola, two; Quwiyat Alade, five; Rejoice Divine, three; Alhaji Divine, five; Eniolorunda, three; Victoria, three; Isoma Prince, three; Roqeeba, four; Boluwatife Odedeyi, three; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, seven.
The Command also identified seven children who, according to the police, died while in the custody of their alleged abductors: Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, two; Greatness Adeagbo, five; Sainat Amoo, two; Taiwo Usman, two; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, seven; and Miracle Olaniyi, four.
The Command has consequently appealed to parents and guardians who have lost children in recent times to visit the Police State Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.
Olugbenga said the Police were working with other relevant security and government agencies to uncover the full structure of the network, locate additional missing children and investigate the reported deaths.
“The Command is working with other relevant security and government agencies to identify the full structure of the network, locate other missing children, establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and ensure that all persons found culpable are brought to justice,” he said.
The police chief also urged members of the public to report missing children immediately, warning that delays could hamper investigations and reduce the chances of successful recovery.
He particularly advised parents and guardians to exercise caution when dealing with persons who present themselves as traditional or spiritual healers, especially where such persons seek to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.
“The public is urged to remain vigilant and timely report any case of missing children to the Police without delay,” Olugbenga said.
He added: “Parents and guardians should also exercise caution when engaging persons who present themselves as traditional or spiritual healers, particularly where they seek to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.”
The Commissioner appealed to members of the public with credible information capable of assisting the investigation to approach the Police, assuring them that such information would be handled professionally and confidentially where necessary.
He said the Command remained committed to dismantling criminal networks and protecting children and other vulnerable members of society.
“The Oyo State Police Command remains committed to protecting children and other vulnerable persons, dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that justice is served in accordance with the law,” Olugbenga said.